Terry Pluto's Talkin' ... about the Browns' young talent, the Tribe's potential power source and the younger Cavaliers

View full sizeJoshua Gunter / The Plain DealerSafety T.J. Ward, a second-round pick in last year's NFL Draft, is one of four Browns who received praise from the Web site Profootballfocus.com for their play in the AFC North.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Like falling snowflakes, there are an abundance of thoughts about Cleveland's big-league teams

About the Browns ...

1. One of my favorite NFL Web sites is Profootballfocus.com. It picked an all-AFC North team. The following Browns were picked the best at their positions: Running back -- Peyton Hillis. Pass-catching tight end -- Ben Watson. Cornerback (one of two) -- Joe Haden. Special teams coverage -- T.J. Ward.

2. Let's look in depth at Ward, the second-rounder who started at safety and led the defense in snaps -- he was on the field 98 percent of the time. Profootballfocus rated him No. 24 out of 61 starting safeties, a strong rookie performance. Remember how the Browns wanted Eric Berry in the draft? He went No. 5 overall to Kansas City, and the Browns took Haden instead. Well, at No. 18 among safeties, Berry didn't rate that much higher than Ward.

3. Here's the disclaimer: I don't understand how Profootballfocus rates the players in every area, as it is complicated. I also know the site can be wrong, as it doesn't know the coverage and blocking schemes of every team. But it rated the Eagles' Quintin Mikell as the top safety. Ed Reed was No. 4, Troy Polamalu was No. 5. By the way, Mikell was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Boise State by Tom Heckert, the current Browns GM.

4. Among safeties, Ward is rated 10th against the run, but only 47th in pass coverage. His partner at safety this past season was Abe Elam, who played only eight fewer snaps than Ward. Elam ranked No. 43 among the 61 safeties. Because Elam and Ward played the most snaps on defense, it underlines the need to find another safety. If they had a backup, it was Michael Adams. Ideally, the Browns need to find a playmaker to team with Ward, and Elam then would be a quality backup -- rather than a below-average starter.

5. Here's what the site had to say about Haden, picked as one of the two best cornerbacks in the AFC North: "Looks like the best cornerback to come out since Darrelle Revis, with a real ability for making plays (and not just in coverage). We'll have our eyes firmly on this guy next year, because he could be something truly special."

6. I will be speaking about my book "What I Learned From Watching the Browns" at the Elyria Public Library on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. It's free to the public.

About the West Coast offense ...

1. The Browns know they need an impact receiver, and they are looking at both the draft and free agency. But they also believe the change to the West Coast offense with a variety of short passes delivered "in stride" to receivers can mean more effectiveness for Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi. The belief is the previous offense didn't make a significant commitment to throwing to the wide receivers, especially near the sidelines. Mostly, they were told to run deep -- not the strength for either of them.

2. Tight end Ben Watson was thrown a team-high 102 passes, and he'll continue to be a main weapon -- especially in the middle of the field. Hillis came next in terms of being a target -- having 77 passes thrown his way. Then came Massaquoi (75), Chansi Stuckey (63), Robiskie (50) and Joshua Cribbs (39).

3. The new coaches believe the offense often settled for passes to Watson and Hillis, rather than create schemes more favorable for receivers. Odds are the Browns will bring in only one significant receiver. They have so many other needs to fill. The current receivers will be given a fresh start and a chance to find a job in the new offense. But they will have to prove they can catch passes near the sidelines.

4. The Browns also think sixth-rounder Carlton Mitchell (who didn't catch a pass last season) can help, if given a chance. They see him as a gifted 6-foot-3, 215-pound athlete who can run well with the ball after catching short passes.

5. And yes, they are sold on Colt McCoy as a West Coast quarterback. They believe his accuracy, quick release and ability to throw while on the run all fit the new system. He also has the maturity and football IQ that the new coaches want.

About the Tribe ...

View full sizeAssociated PressMatt LaPorta is perhaps the most interesting storyline to the upcoming Indians season.

1. Tribe manager Manny Acta says Matt LaPorta receives a mulligan for 2010, because the first baseman was hampered all season after a winter in which he had hip and toe surgery. LaPorta batted .221 (.668 OPS) with 12 HR and 41 RBI in 376 at-bats. He was worse (.195) after the All-Star break, compared with .255 in the first half. LaPorta has what amounts to a full season of big-league at-bats (557) between 2009 and 2010, hitting 19 HR with 62 RBI and a .232 average (.694 OPS). There is no reason to send him back to Class AAA, where LaPorta has 22 HR and 76 RBI while hitting .315 in 407 at-bats over the last two years.

2. Is LaPorta the right-handed power hitter who was leading all of the minors in homers when acquired in July 2008 from Milwaukee in the CC Sabathia trade? Or is he a guy whose bat seems a little slow, who tends to swing only with his arms (losing power) when his confidence lags? In 2011, the Indians are determined to answers those questions, as he will be given the benefit of the doubt and handed first base.

3. The Indians have no real prospect at first besides the 26-year-old LaPorta. They talk about using Shelly Duncan and Carlos Santana as backups. While not on the 40-man roster, Jordan Brown is expected to be in training camp. He once was a prospect (.306, .840 OPS for his minor-league career), but at 27 and after hitting only .230 (.582 OPS) in 87 at-bats with the Tribe last season, he is a long shot to make the team.

4. LaPorta says his hip and toe are healed. He has lost some weight, adding strength. For the first time in his career, he knows that a starting job is his to lose. While he did make the opening day roster in 2010, he wasn't physically able to play every day because of the surgeries. In June, he was sent to the minors -- where he batted .362 in 18 games.

5. The Indians' internal statistics rate LaPorta as "average" at first base. His range is slightly below, his ability to dig balls out of the dirt is above average. For him, the bottom line will be his bat.

6. Asdrubal Cabrera is already in Goodyear, Ariz., and the Indians say he has responded to Acta's challenge to arrive in better physical condition. Cabrera has a stocky build and can easily add weight -- which hurt his range last season, as it was considered well below average by several stats services.

7. Tim Haselow e-mailed that the Indians should play Cabrera at second, his best position defensively. That would indeed upgrade the defense at second, but the Indians believe either Jason Kipnis or Cord Phelps could claim second by mid-season. Between those two prospects, they are convinced they have the second baseman of the future.

8. There is not much depth at short. When Cabrera was injured last season, Jason Donald played short and played it poorly. He had nine errors in 44 games -- Cabrera had 12 in 97 games. Donald's range also was below average. Exactly how Donald will handle third base -- he played only three games in the minors there -- is another question.

9. The Indians are serious about Jeremy Bonderman, who is 28 and coming off serious arm problems in 2008 and 2009. He threw 171 innings with Detroit last season, the most he pitched since 2007. He was 5-6 with a 4.79 ERA before the All-Star break, 3-4 with a 6.50 ERA after. Overall, he was 8-10 with a 5.53 ERA.

10. The Tigers didn't pick up Bonderman's $12.5 million option for 2011, making him a free agent. They did offer him a minor-league contract, but he rejected it. The market for Bonderman is slim because of that 6.50 ERA (and 13 HR in 73 innings) after the All-Star break -- when his average fastball dropped from 92 mph to 88. The Indians believe fatigue was the reason.

11. The Indians are looking at Bonderman because you can never have enough starting pitching. A year ago, David Huff was a hot prospect. But after 208 innings (260 hits, 30 HR) in the last two seasons, along with a 13-19 record, a 5.84 ERA and opposing batters hitting .304 against him, Huff is rarely mentioned. At 26, he needs a big spring to make the team.

12. John Zaccardelli e-mailed: "I'm glad Mike Hargrove is back [as a consultant]. What I respect most, however, dates back to around 1980 or so. ... I was vacationing in Tucson. After practice one day, I saw Mike engaged in what appeared to be a pretty important conversation with a friend. I approached him and asked if we could get a photo for my 10-year old son. He left his friend and graciously allowed himself to be photographed. Isn't it funny how little acts of kindness sometimes means more than batting averages, wins and losses, etc.?"

About the Cavaliers ...

View full sizePhelan M. Ebenhack / Associated PressRamon Sessions has shown some determination and a fast-paced game that will eventually help out the Cavaliers, says Terry Pluto.

1. It's probably a reflection of the ever-diminishing talent around him, but Ramon Sessions keeps looking better to me. Since Jan. 1, he's averaging 14.2 points, shooting 47 percent with 6.7 assists and 1.8 turnovers. He leads the Cavs in free throws attempted this season because he furiously attacks the rim and draws fouls -- then makes 83 percent at the foul line.

2. Sessions may be an effective third guard off the bench to bring an up-tempo pace to a team. His outside shooting is suspect, his defense iffy. But he's tough to defend and doesn't turn the ball over nearly as often as it seems -- because when he does make a turnover, it tends to be an ugly one.

3. It's so hard to judge young players such as Samardo Samuels, Christian Eyenga, Manny Harris and Alonzo Gee because many are often on the court with few veterans to stabilize the situation. Gee does show the gap between the D-League (where he averaged 21 points) and the NBA, where he has struggled to score as a small forward. It's hard to picture him on the roster next season.

4. Harris made the team as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan. Injuries to Mo Williams and others have forced Harris into the lineup. In 13 starts, he's averaging 12.5 points, shooting 42 percent (41 percent on 3-pointers) and 5.2 rebounds in 32 minutes a game. His athleticism does stand out. Byron Scott thinks Harris can become a good defender because he has the physical gifts and the will to do it.

5. Eyenga is the most physically gifted player on the team in terms of leaping, running and timing when it comes to blocking shots. Like Harris, he is raw but intriguing. I have not seen enough of Samuels (who seems undersized as a power forward) to buy into his potential.

6. Being realistic, if Harris and Eyenga are starting, the Cavs aren't close to playoff caliber. As I write about the Cavs, I see Sessions, Harris and Eyenga as viable bench players -- but who starts?

7. If the Cavs have an untouchable player, it Anderson Varejao. He's out for the season with a foot injury. Scott absolutely loves the power forward/center and believes he's one of the keys to a revival. Don't be surprised if Antawn Jamison is back next season, as he continues to be productive and there is little market for him because of his age (34) and contract ($14 million in each of the next two years).

8. One plan is to have J.J. Hickson (13.3 points, 10.8 rebounds since Jan. 1), Jamison and Varejao as the big men -- with the team adding guards and small forwards. Of course, they would have to consider OSU's Jared Sullinger in the draft, as they think he can be very productive in the NBA.

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